Seat or armrest attachment

ABSTRACT

A seat attachment is disclosed. In illustrated embodiments, the seat attachment includes a tablet arm and a tablet arm cupholder. The tablet arm includes a substantially flat work or utility surface and is assembled to a seat cupholder via the tablet arm cupholder. Once assembled, the tablet arm provides a writing surface and can be used to support a book, a laptop computer, a notepad or other items.

This application is a continuation in part of application Ser. No. 11/092,244 filed Mar. 29, 2005 entitled “WRITING PLATFORM SUPPORTABLE BY A CUPHOLDER AND METHOD OF USE”. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a portable and/or removable tablet arm or attachment for an armrest or seat. More particularly, the present invention relates to a tablet arm or attachment for use with a seat or armrest cupholder.

Most modem theaters or large auditoriums provide seat or armrest cupholders to hold a beverage container or cup. In many theaters or auditoriums, the seat cupholder is located on an armrest of the seating structure. Many educational classes and seminars are now held in auditoriums and facilities having seat or armrest cupholders. The cupholders provide a place for an attendee or student to put a drink or cup. However, the cupholders do not provide a place to support a book, notepad, a laptop computer or other items. Embodiments of the present invention address these and other problems and provide advantages over the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a seat attachment for an armrest or seat cupholder. In embodiments disclosed, the seat attachment includes a cupholder sized and/or configured to fit into the armrest or seat cupholder. The seat attachment is secured to the armrest by the cupholder. In embodiments described, the seat attachment includes a tablet arm that can be used to support a book, a laptop computer, a notepad or other items.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a seat attachment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the seat attachment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the seat attachment of FIG. 2 taken along section line 3-3 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the seat attachment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a perspective illustration of a seat attachment including a tablet arm and tablet arm cupholder shown with the tablet arm cupholder exploded from the tablet arm.

FIG. 5A is a bottom view of the tablet arm of the seat attachment of FIG. 5.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the tablet arm and tablet arm cupholder of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the tablet arm and tablet arm cupholder of FIG. 5 inserted into an armrest cupholder.

FIG. 8 schematically illustrates a tablet arm attachment having a standard sized receptacle and different size or shaped cupholders for attachment to different sized or shaped armrest or seat cupholders.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of an embodiment of a tablet arm taken through latches connecting the tablet arm cupholder to the tablet arm.

FIG. 9A is a diagrammatic view of the tablet arm cupholder latched relative to an undersurface of the tablet arm.

FIG. 10 is a flow chart illustrating steps for providing a cupholder sized or shaped for a seat arm cupholder.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

An embodiment of seat or armrest attachment is generally illustrated at 10 in FIG. 1. As shown, the attachment 10 of FIG. 1 includes a tablet arm 12 having a utility or work surface 14 for writing, reading, working on a computer or other activities. The tablet arm 12 is removably secured to a seat armrest having an armrest cupholder (not shown in FIG. 1) by a tablet arm cupholder 16 which as shown extends from the tablet arm 12.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the tablet arm 12 includes a tablet body 18 having a first end 20, second end 21 and opposed sides 22, 23. Utility surface 14 is formed between the first and second ends 20, 21 and opposed sides 22, 23 of the body 18. The body of the tablet arm 12 is formed in an illustrative embodiment of a molded plastic unit. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the tablet arm cupholder 16 and tablet arm 12 are formed as an integral one piece, molded plastic unit, which is capable of nesting or stacking in a nesting manner with a plurality of similarly configured tablet arms. Alternatively, the tablet arm can be fabricated of other materials such as composite particle material, paper pulp material or other formable particular material such as wood, flour or starch pulp molding materials.

As shown, the utility or work surface 14 of the tablet arm 12 is a substantially flat surface onto which a tablet, loose leaf paper, a book or a laptop computer can be supported. The tablet arm 12 includes a lip 24 that extends generally around a perimeter portion of the work or utility surface 14. The lip 24 forms a raised surface which aids in retaining material, such as a book and/or laptop computer on the work surface 14. In the embodiment shown, the tablet arm 12 includes rounded edges.

In the embodiment shown, the tablet arm 12 is generally “L” shaped to form a generally rectangular shaped main body and an arm portion or extension. In the embodiment shown, the tablet arm 12 includes an arcuate or contoured surface 26 between the main body and the arm portion on a back side of the tablet arm. Although an “L” shaped tablet arm 12 is shown, the shape of the tablet arm 12 is not limited the particular shape shown and the tablet arm 12 can have other shapes such as a rectangular shape. The lip 24 extends about the perimeter of the tablet arm 12 to ends 27, 28. As shown, lip 24 does not extend along a back side 30 of the arm portion of the tablet arm so that there is a generally smooth flat end surface upon which a forearm of the user or student can be placed.

The tablet arm 12 illustrated in FIG. 1 also includes a perimeter skirt 32 extending downward from the lip 24 about the perimeter of the tablet arm 12. In the illustrated embodiment, the perimeter skirt 32 includes a first end side wall 34, a left side wall 36, a right side wall 38, and a generally arcuate second end side wall 39, which cooperatively define a continuous side wall about a perimeter of the tablet arm 12. The side walls 34, 36, 38, 39 or skirt provide structural integrity for the tablet arm 12 and prevent the tablet arm 12 from flexing as pressure is applied to the substantially flat surface 14.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 the tablet arm 12 is secured to an armrest cupholder 40 of a seat arm or armrest 42 using the tablet arm cupholder 16. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 the cupholder 16 is positioned closer to the first end 20 than the second end 21 and closer to the side 23 than side 22 so that the cupholder is not symmetric with respect to the first and second ends 20, 21 and the opposed sides 22, 23. In particular, as shown in FIG. 2, the tablet arm cupholder 16 is positioned proximate to the right side wall 38 and surface 14 extends from the tablet arm cupholder 16 toward the left side wall 36. When assembled, the tablet cupholder 16 is supported relative to the seat armrest 42 and the main body portion of the tablet arm is cantilevered relative to the seat armrest 42.

As shown in FIG. 2, the tablet arm cupholder 16 and armrest cupholder 40 are for example cylindrically shaped or have a generally circular cross-section so that the tablet arm cupholder 16 is rotatable within the armrest cupholder 40 as illustrated by arrow 44 to adjust an orientation or position of the tablet arm 12 relative to the armrest or seat. As shown in FIG. 3, the tablet arm cupholder 16 has a stepped profile to form shoulder 50 defined by a stepped surface formed between an upper cup portion 52 and a lower cup portion 54.

In the illustrated embodiment, when assembled, the shoulder 50 of the tablet arm cupholder 16 abuts a surface 60 of the seat armrest 42 to support the tablet arm 12 relative to the armrest 42. A perimeter dimension of the lower cup portion 54 of the tablet arm cupholder 16 is sized to interface with the armrest cupholder 40 to hold or attach the tablet arm 12 relative to the armrest 42 of the seat.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, a depth of the upper cup portion 52 of the tablet arm cupholder 16 is similar to a depth of the perimeter skirt 32 of the tablet arm 12 such that when the tablet arm cupholder 16 is positioned within a seat cupholder, there is sufficient clearance to rotate the tablet arm cupholder 16 to adjust the orientation or position of the tablet arm 12 relative to the seat (not shown). Depending upon the configuration of the armrest or seat, the tablet arm 12 may be rotatable 360° about a central axis 68 of the armrest cupholder 40.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, while functioning as an attachment mechanism for the tablet arm 12 to the armrest or seat, the tablet arm cupholder 16 can also be used to hold or contain a beverage container or other items (not shown). As illustrated in the embodiment of FIG. 2, a bottom surface 70 of the tablet arm cupholder 16 is slotted to allow liquid to drain even if the beverage is spilled in the cupholder.

As previously described, the tablet arm cupholder 16 is positioned proximate the right side wall 38 or side 23 such that the right side wall 38 does not protrude significantly beyond an outer edge 72 of the armrest 42. Positioning the tablet arm cupholder 16 proximate the right side wall 38 allows a person in the seat to effectively use the substantially flat top surface 14 for supporting a laptop computer, book or note paper while not disrupting the person in the adjacent seat. The generally concave arcuate configuration of the back side wall 39 provides additional space for the person in the seat to move therein without having his/her movement impeded by the tablet arm 12.

Depending upon the needs of the person in the seat and the positioning of others next to the person, the attendee or student can position the tablet arm cupholder 16 of the present invention in the seat or armrest cupholder 40 to the left or to the right of the student or attendee. Additionally, the student or attendee can rotate the tablet arm cupholder 16 within the seat or armrest cupholder 40 to position the substantially flat surface 14 towards or away from the student or attendee or to configure the substantially flat surface 14 to better support books, a notepad, a laptop computer or other material.

The tablet arm attachment 10 illustrated in FIGS. 1-4 is portable and removable and can be purchased and installed without significant capital expense and labor. Classrooms or lecture halls are typically equipped with fixed tablet arms. However, fixed or permanent tablet arms are expensive and are difficult to retrofit to another configuration or use. Provided seats have cupholders, a school or other facility can use the tablet arms described to provide students and/or attendees with a table or writing surface for class without incurring the expense required to install fixed tablet arms. Although FIGS. 2-3, show use of the tablet arm attachment 10 with respect to a particular armrest cupholder, application is not limited to an armrest cupholder as shown and can be adapted for other seat cupholders.

The tablet arm illustrated in FIGS. 1-4 can be removed after use by removing the tablet arm cupholder 16 from the seat cupholder. The removed tablet arms or attachments 10 can be stored by nesting the tablet arms 12 one on top of another to efficiently stack the tablet arms in a convenient location for the next class or seminar. In the illustrated embodiment, the tablet arms or attachments are stacked by inserting the tablet arm cupholders 16 into one another.

In another embodiment the seat attachment includes a separate cupholder which secures the seat attachment to the armrest cupholder 40. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the seat attachment 100 includes a tablet arm 102 and a tablet arm cupholder 104. The tablet arm 102 as shown includes a receptacle 106 which is sized to have the cupholder 104 inserted therein to cooperatively form a tablet arm seat attachment.

For the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the tablet arm 102 includes a tablet body having a planar work or utility surface 110 and a perimeter lip 112 which extends about a perimeter portion of the work or utility surface 110. In the embodiment shown the tablet body is shaped to form a main body portion and an arm portion or extension that is designed to extend along the seat arm or armrest 42 when assembled. As shown in FIG. 5, the main body portion and arm portion form a generally “L” shaped tablet body.

The main body portion includes a first or forward end 114, a second or aft end 116 and first and second sides 118, 119. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the arm portion or extension extends along side 118 to form the generally “L” shaped tablet body. As shown the cupholder receptacle 106 is positioned closer to the forward or first end 114 than the aft or second end 116 and closer to the first side 118 than side 119. As shown, the first end 114 includes a concave or arcuate shape to provide a contoured surface from the main body portion to the arm portion or extension. The tablet arm 102 as shown includes rounded edges and a perimeter skirt 120 about a perimeter of the tablet arm 102. In the illustrated embodiment, the perimeter skirt 120 is formed of a first end side wall 124, left side wall 126, a right side wall 128 and a generally arcuate second end side wall 129 defining the arcuate shape between the main body portion and the arm portion or extension.

In one embodiment, the tablet arm 102 includes a length dimension of 16.5 inches between ends 114 and 116 and a cross dimension of 16 inches between sides 118, 119. The tablet arm 102 has a length dimension of 26 inches along the arm or extension portion and a width dimension of 5 inches along the arm or extension portion.

As previously described, the tablet arm cupholder 104 is inserted into tablet arm receptacle 106 to attach the tablet arm 102 to an armrest or seat cupholder 40. As shown, the tablet arm cupholder 104 includes a perimeter flange 130. In the illustrated embodiment, the cupholder receptacle 106 on the tablet arm includes a stepped perimeter rim 132 and collar 134 about the receptacle opening 106. The perimeter flange 130 of the cupholder 104 fits into the stepped perimeter rim 132 of the receptacle 106 so that an upper surface of the cupholder is flush with the upper or work surface 110 of the tablet arm 102. Application of the present invention however, is not limited to a tablet arm receptacle having a stepped perimeter rim 132 and a flush interface as described.

The tablet arm 102 or tablet body includes an upper surface and a lower or undersurface surface 135 as shown in FIG. 5A. The utility surface 110 is formed on the upper surface. On the lower or undersurface 135, opposite to the utility surface, the tablet body includes a plurality of ribs as shown in FIG. 5A to provide structural rigidity for a cantilevered portion or portions of the tablet body or tablet arm 102. In the illustrated embodiment the ribs are formed relative to cupholder receptacle 106. As shown, the plurality of ribs includes a plurality of radially spaced ribs 140 a extending from the receptacle 106 and a plurality radial rings 140 b incrementally spaced from the cupholder receptacle 106. The ribs 140 a and 140 b provide sufficient rigidity to support loads on the utility surface 110 at locations spaced from cupholder receptacle 106. In an illustrated embodiment the tablet body includes twelve (12) longitudinal ribs 140 a and three (3) radial ribs 140 b to support loads on the utility surface 110 of the tablet arm 102.

FIG. 6 illustrates insertion of the cupholder 104 into the receptacle 106. As shown, the cupholder 104 includes a plurality of circumferential ribs 142 that extend about a circumference of a tablet arm portion 144 of the cupholder 104 and when the cupholder 104 is inserted into the cupholder receptable 106, the ribs 142 abut collar 134 on the tablet arm 102.

The tablet arm cupholder 104 secures the tablet arm relative to the seat armrest 42 via the armrest cupholder 40 as shown in FIG. 7. When inserted, cupholder 104 abuts an end surface 146 of the armrest cupholder 40 to support the tablet arm cupholder 104 and tablet arm 102 relative to the seat arm or armrest 42. An outer dimension of the tablet arm cupholder 104 is sized or configured relative to the seat arm cupholder 40 to limit movement the tablet arm cupholder 104 and tablet arm relative to the seat arm 42. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7, both the seat arm cupholder 40 and tablet arm cupholder 104 have a similar stepped profile or configuration to provide a tight fit or interface between the seat arm cupholder 40 and the tablet arm cupholder 104 for use. When assembled the cupholder 104 can be used to store beverage cups, bottles or other items in addition to functioning as an attachment mechanism.

In the illustrated embodiment, the tablet arm cupholder 104 is cylindrically shaped for rotation in the seat or armrest cupholder 40 to adjust the orientation of the tablet arm relative to the seat or armrest 42. The cupholder 104 has sufficient length or height to provide clearance between the skirt 120 and armrest 42 when tablet arm cupholder 104 is inserted into the seat arm cupholder 40. In the illustrated embodiment, the tablet arm 102 and tablet arm cupholder 104 are both formed of a molded plastic material.

The tablet arm or attachment can be adapted for different seat arm configurations having different seat arm cupholder dimensions. As illustrated in FIG. 8, the seat or tablet arm attachment is adaptable for different seat or armrest cupholder sizes and/or configurations using a standard tablet arm 102 and different tablet arm cupholders 104-1, 104-2 sized or shaped for different seat cupholders 40. The standard tablet arm 102 as shown in FIG. 8 has a uniform or standard size 150 cupholder receptacle 106.

Cupholders 104-1, 104-2 each has a uniform or standard size tablet arm portion 144 and unique sized or shaped seat portion 155. The tablet arm portion 144 has a standard dimension 154 to interface or mate with the standard size cupholder receptacle 106. Seat portions 155 of cupholders 104-1, 104-2 have different shapes and dimensions 156-1, 156-2 to mate with different shaped seat arm cupholder 40. As described, the different size or shaped tablet arm cupholders 104-1, 104-2 can be fabricated or molded for use with a standard tablet arm 102 having a standard cupholder receptacle 106.

As previously discussed, the cupholder 104, 104-1, 104-2 is inserted into the seat armrest cupholder 40 to secure the tablet arm 102 to the seat armrest. In embodiments described, prior to insertion, the tablet arm cupholder 104 is coupled or latched to the tablet arm 102. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 9 and 9A, one or more latches 160 connect the cupholder 104 to the tablet arm 102. In the illustrated embodiment, the one or more latches 160 includes a flexible latch member 162 which abuts a latch surface 166 to restrict withdrawal of the cupholder 104 from the receptacle 106 on the tablet arm 102. In the embodiment shown, the latch member 162 is formed on the cupholder 104 and includes a notched surface 168 that interfaces with latch surface 166 formed on a bottom surface of the stepped perimeter rim 132 of the tablet arm 102.

As shown in FIG. 9A, collar 134 extends about a perimeter of the cupholder receptacle 106 on the tablet arm 102. Collar 134 is aligned relatively upright along an upright axis of the cupholder. As shown, one or more latch openings 170 are formed in or along collar 134 about a perimeter of the receptacle 106. As shown in FIG. 9A, three openings are cut or formed in the collar 134 about the circumference of the receptacle 106 to form the latch openings 170. To secure the cupholder 104, the latch members 162 are aligned with the latch openings 170. Thereafter the cupholder is inserted into the receptacle 106 of the tablet arm 102. As inserted, a ramped surface 172 of the latch member 162 (shown in FIG. 9) contacts the rim 132 to flex the latch member 162 away from the rim 132 so that the notched surface 168 clears rim 132 and snaps into place on an underside of the rim 132. Once the latch member 162 is snapped into place, the latch member 162 restricts withdrawal of the cupholder 104 from the tablet arm 102.

The cupholder 102 is withdrawn from the tablet arm 102 by releasing the latch or latches 160 abutting the underside of the perimeter rim 132 so that the tablet arm cupholder 104 can be withdrawn. The latches 160 are released by applying force to bias the latch member 162 inwardly until the notched surface 168 clears perimeter rim 132 and can be withdrawn. As shown, rotation of the cupholder 104 relative to the receptacle is restricted by contact between latch member 162 and collar 134. When assembled in seat arm cupholder 40, the tablet arm cupholder 104 can rotate within the seat arm cupholder 40 to adjust an orientation of tablet arm 102 as previously described. Although in the illustrated embodiment latch member 162 is formed on the cupholder application is not limited to the particular embodiment shown. For example, the latch member 162 can alternatively be fabricated on the tablet arm and/or cupholder 104. It should be noted that the latches and components of FIGS. 9 and 9A are not necessarily drawn to scale.

As previously described with respect to FIG. 10, the standard tablet arms 102 can be prefabricated to provide a stock inventory for use with different tablet arm cupholders 104-1, 104-2. Tablet arm cupholders 104-1, 104-2 are fabricated based upon a customer order or projected demand. Since the tablet arm cupholders 104-1, 104-2 are manufactured separately, the number of cupholders manufactured is determined separately from the tablet arm inventory. This reduces the cost or expense invested in a size specific product and molds. As previously described, the cupholders 104-1, 104-2 can have a slotted surface to allow fluid to drain.

FIG. 10 illustrates a flow chart of steps to provide a seat or armrest attachment for different sized and shaped cupholders. As shown in step 180, a standard tablet arm 102 is fabricated having a standard size receptacle 106. The tablet arm cupholder 104 size and/or configuration is determined as illustrated by block 182 based upon the seat cupholder size and/or configuration. The size specific cupholder 104 is provided for insertion into the standard size receptacle 106 of the tablet arm 102 as illustrated in step 184 to form the seat attachment assembly.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, instead of a right handed tablet arm as shown, a left handed tablet arm can be used to form the tablet arm attachment for left handed users or writers. 

1. A tablet arm attachment comprising: a tablet arm having a utility surface; and a tablet arm cupholder configured for insertion into a seat or armrest cupholder to secure the tablet arm relative to a seat or armrest.
 2. The tablet arm attachment of claim 1 wherein the tablet arm comprises a tablet body having a first end, a second end and opposed sides and the tablet arm cupholder is located closer to first end than the second end and closer to one side than the other side.
 3. The tablet arm attachment of claim 1 wherein the tablet arm is generally “L” shaped and includes a generally rectangular shaped body portion and arm portion.
 4. The tablet arm attachment of claim 3 wherein the tablet arm cupholder is proximate to the arm portion.
 5. The tablet arm attachment of claim 1 wherein the tablet arm cupholder is insertable into a cupholder receptacle on the tablet arm.
 6. The tablet arm attachment of claim 5 wherein the tablet arm cupholder includes a perimeter flange which seats into a stepped rim surface about a perimeter of the cupholder receptacle.
 7. The tablet arm attachment of claim 5 wherein the tablet arm cupholder includes a plurality of spaced ribs which abut a collar about a portion of a perimeter of the cupholder receptacle on the tablet arm.
 8. The tablet arm attachment of claim 1 wherein the tablet arm includes an undersurface opposite to the utility surface having a plurality of ribs.
 9. The tablet arm attachment of claim 8 wherein the undersurface includes a plurality of ribs radially spaced from the tablet arm cupholder or a cupholder receptacle on the tablet arm.
 10. The tablet arm attachment of claim 8 wherein the undersurface includes a plurality of longitudinal ribs extending from the tablet arm cupholder or a receptacle on the tablet arm.
 11. The tablet arm attachment of claim 8 wherein the undersurface includes a plurality of radially spaced ribs and a plurality of longitudinal ribs.
 12. The tablet arm attachment of claim 5 including at least one latch to secure the tablet arm cupholder in the receptacle on the tablet arm.
 13. A seat attachment assembly comprising: a seat attachment having a cupholder receptacle; and a cupholder having a portion sized to fit into the cupholder receptacle on the seat attachment and a portion sized for insertion into a seat or armrest cupholder.
 14. The seat attachment assembly of claim 13 and including one or more latches to releasably connect the cupholder to the seat attachment.
 15. The seat attachment assembly of claim 13 wherein the cupholder includes a perimeter flange which seats into a stepped perimeter rim of the cupholder receptacle on the seat attachment.
 16. A method comprising the step of: inserting a cupholder coupled to a tablet arm into a seat or armrest cupholder to secure the tablet arm relative to the seat or armrest.
 17. The method of claim 16 and comprising the step of: inserting the cupholder into a cupholder receptacle on the tablet arm prior to inserting the cupholder into the seat or armrest cupholder.
 18. The method of claim 17 and further comprising the step of: latching the cupholder in the cupholder receptacle on the tablet arm.
 19. The method of claim 17 and further comprising the steps of: aligning one or more latch members with one or more latch openings prior to inserting the cupholder into the cupholder receptacle on the tablet arm.
 20. The method of claim 17 and further comprising the step of: determining a cupholder size or configuration for the seat or armrest cupholder prior to inserting the cupholder into the cupholder receptacle on the tablet arm. 